To Apply or Not to Apply?

Posted: 04/07/2016 by
Cox Purtell

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string(2609) "That is the question.
In my job, I review, A LOT of resumes. Part of my role is to write enticing advertisements to attract the best candidates in the market so they apply for the jobs I’m recruiting. I believe by writing a specific and dedicated advert for each position I recruit, will in turn attract the most suitable and relevant candidates.
However, I found that it has become ever increasingly popular to receive applications from the same candidates for every job posting. I like to call them “serial appliers”.
These serial appliers seem to take no care or thought in their application. Have they even read my advertisement that I have carefully created to sieve out irrelevant applications? Do they not realise that we can see all the applications they have made and the jobs they have applied for?
I appreciate that candidates are struggling to be considered for positions and I also applaud their pro-active and enthusiastic approach. However, unfortunately all this demonstrates is that they haven’t read the detail thoroughly and understood the requirements of the role.
There are also those candidates who may have read the advertisement and fully understood the requirements but not recognised their own suitability for the position. I have seen a candidate apply for both a Receptionist role as well as a Director of Marketing position. That approach only demonstrates that they don’t understand their capabilities or have taken any care with either application.
It is our responsibility as recruiters to write appealing yet honest advertisements. I am also a firm believer in giving candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in person and read beyond their resume. However, candidates also need to play their part, if they want to appear attractive and serious about their job search.
If you are currently applying for positions, take care to only apply for roles that are suitable, where you fit the criteria the advert requires and that you have the necessary experience for the role. If you fully believe you are suitable for the position and have not been contacted, I would encourage you to follow up on your application after a few days.
Most importantly, don’t give up on that position and turn into another willy-nilly serial applier. Take your cursor off the apply button and ask yourself: Are you confident this is a suitable, reasonable and relevant position for you?"
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That is the question.

In my job, I review, A LOT of resumes. Part of my role is to write enticing advertisements to attract the best candidates in the market so they apply for the jobs I’m recruiting. I believe by writing a specific and dedicated advert for each position I recruit, will in turn attract the most suitable and relevant candidates.

However, I found that it has become ever increasingly popular to receive applications from the same candidates for every job posting. I like to call them “serial appliers”.

These serial appliers seem to take no care or thought in their application. Have they even read my advertisement that I have carefully created to sieve out irrelevant applications? Do they not realise that we can see all the applications they have made and the jobs they have applied for?

I appreciate that candidates are struggling to be considered for positions and I also applaud their pro-active and enthusiastic approach. However, unfortunately all this demonstrates is that they haven’t read the detail thoroughly and understood the requirements of the role.

There are also those candidates who may have read the advertisement and fully understood the requirements but not recognised their own suitability for the position. I have seen a candidate apply for both a Receptionist role as well as a Director of Marketing position. That approach only demonstrates that they don’t understand their capabilities or have taken any care with either application.

It is our responsibility as recruiters to write appealing yet honest advertisements. I am also a firm believer in giving candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in person and read beyond their resume. However, candidates also need to play their part, if they want to appear attractive and serious about their job search.

If you are currently applying for positions, take care to only apply for roles that are suitable, where you fit the criteria the advert requires and that you have the necessary experience for the role. If you fully believe you are suitable for the position and have not been contacted, I would encourage you to follow up on your application after a few days.

Most importantly, don’t give up on that position and turn into another willy-nilly serial applier. Take your cursor off the apply button and ask yourself: Are you confident this is a suitable, reasonable and relevant position for you?